Swim Bait Fevor

[Phil Lilley]

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmas...MASTERHeadlines

Big baits for big weights By DAN O'SULLIVAN

Swimbaits currently account for two major BASS records. One is Byron Velvick’s winning creel of 83 pounds, 5 ounces at the 2000 California Invitational. The other is Steve Kennedy’s massive 122-pound, 14-ounce total at the Elite Series Golden State Shootout in March 2007.

Although both records were set at Clear Lake with jumbo-size swimbaits, these Elite Series anglers use smaller versions to score big on fisheries outside of California.

Both anglers utilize palm-size swimbaits as weapons in their fishing arsenal to improve the size of their daily catch. One as an all-day tactic, the other when he feels the fish he’s chasing require a bigger lure profile.

But, unlike swimbaits that can measure up to a foot in length, the advantage with smaller versions is that they do not require the purchase of specialized gear.

For example, when he’s throwing swimbaits, Kennedy uses a 7-11 Kistler Helium 2 Flipping Stick teamed with a 7.1:1 baitcasting reel spooled with 20- to 30-pound-test P-Line Floroclear. Kennedy believes the reel speed is important for hook setting.

“Big fish will eat the bait from behind and push it forward. So you have to catch up to them.”

Meanwhile, Velvick throws his smaller swimbaits on his signature 7-9 swimbait rod made by Rogue Rods, which he teams with an Okuma V-200a spooled with 15- to 20-pound-test Berkley Trilene XT.

Velvick doesn’t recommend the new high-tech lines when throwing swimbaits, however. “Monofilament is needed to absorb the shock of swimbait hook sets,” he said.

Many consider Velvick to be one of the sport’s most recognized swimbait experts, and he has thrown these baits for years on the Tournament Trail. But Kennedy’s first “big bait” experience came at the 2007 Elite Series opener at Lake Amistad, just three weeks before his record-setting performance at Clear Lake.

“At Amistad, big female bass were suspended in trees leading into spawning areas on the first day,” Kennedy remembered.

“I couldn’t get them to eat a jig or a Kinami Flash, so I went back the next morning throwing a Baby E swimbait [www.californiaswimbabes.com] and caught a 5-pounder.”

Since that day on Amistad, Kennedy has used swimbaits across the country. But one that he used at Clear Lake has become his favorite.

“I caught my biggest fish at Clear Lake on a Huddleston Trout [www.huddlestondeluxe.com], but I caught 40 fish a day on the 6-inch Basstrix Paddle Tail with a 6/0 Falcon hook,” revealed Kennedy. “It’s a great bait. I can catch fish everywhere

on it.”

Since setting the all-time record in 2000, Velvick has been extolling the virtues of swimbaits to anglers everywhere, and palm-size baits also serve him well. “I’ve used a 5-inch handmade bait for many years. The profile, weight and action

of it are perfect. But as the popularity has grown, I’ve found new models that I like.”

Velvick used his homemade version to win Ray Scott’s Light Line Championship in 2002 but has found comparable characteristics in River2Sea’s Live Eye Bottom Walker swimbait [www.river2seausa.com].

“The smaller Bottom Walkers are the perfect profile to mimic baitfish,” Velvick said. “They cast well, and they have great action and a perfect hook for big fish.”

Velvick often uses swimbaits all day long. But Kennedy considers them situational tools.

“I use them when I find big fish that won’t eat conventional offerings,” Kennedy explained.

“Swimbaits have a profile that appeals to bigger fish. In fact, using them around shad spawns helps me get more of the right bites, as opposed to spinnerbaits and crankbaits.”

Kennedy and Velvick both say not to let the large size of a swimbait intimidate you.

“Big fish want a big meal,” Kennedy remarked.

“Swimbaits get their attention.”

Velvick agreed. “Four- to 6-inch baitfish are very common around the country. Fish are accustomed to eating prey that size. As anglers, we need to exploit that.”

They suggest that fishermen go to their favorite lake and try fishing swimbaits around docks, ledges or submerged grassbeds. Start with a slow retrieve, but experiment to find the right cadence and set the hook hard when strikes occur.

They also say that at least 2 feet of visibility in the water is optimal.

Finally, Kennedy offered a word of caution to his fellow anglers.

“These things are addictive. I’ve spent almost $3,000 on swimbaits since California,” he admitted. “I know I couldn’t have caught them at Clear Lake on anything else, so I’m definitely hooked.”

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[Trav]

I like those baits, but they sure can get pricey.

[ryan]

The king shad is a great swimbait that is reasonably priced. Don't forget about the old redfin thats a great swim bait. If your looking for a great soft plastic swim bait the Berkley wild shad are great. Swim baits are awesome and people don't use them enough.

[MOFishwater]

Isn't the King Shad $30? Not entirely reasonable if you ask me:) What's the action like on those things? I guess when if it's durable it'll pay for itself after a number of fish. I've actually taken a liking to the Bass Pro shop brand swimbait. Just over $4, they are just as good looking as the pricey ones but they arent too long lasting. Last one I got had the tail bit off on the first cast (but I was also fishing a lake w/ pike and muskies, so who knows what hit it). For some reason they stopped making the BIG one, when I first found them they were making a 6 or 7 incher, I still have one but I only break it out when we're in monster muskie country in Wisconsin, i dont wanna lose it or waste it on a mediocre fish.

I bought 6 boxes of the Basstrix Paddle tail tubes a while back from CA. They are decent looking but also quite flimsy. I lost more than a few just casting them where they'd fly off the hook, it would tear out and it would be long gone 1/2 across the lake. I started super-gluing the hook to the nose of the bait after rigging it up which seems to help a bit.

I'm definitely a firm believer in the swimbait now though, while you may not get as many strikes, the ones you do get are amazing.

GImme some lowdown on the king shad if you dont mind. Did you get the smaller size or the larger one? How far does it dive? I prefer running mine like a "wake bait", I love the topwater strikes on the swimbaits. Nothing cooler than seeing that bulge slowly coming up from behind and nailing it! I caught my first muskie last summer on a Friday using one of the BPS swimbaits, this after fishing the same lake for 3 years w/out a bite and ended up catching 3 more the next day, 4 in one weekend. Pretty neat.

[CaptainJoe]

Having moved here from CA almost three years ago, I have thrown my share of swimbaits. I regularly fished Lakes Casitas, Castaic, and Cachuma. The big swimbaits from Castaic and Optimum work great on FL strained bass; however, I have not been successful with them here in MO. I have thrown the smaller swimbaits here in MO and they work occassionally, but not enough for me to dedicate that much time to throwing them. I throw the 3-4" models and like the Optimum and the baits from Matt Lures.

I agree with the article, you do not need specialize gear to throw a swimbait. I just happen to have an old saltwater Shimano 7' heavy action, fast tip, rod. But, any flipping stick will do. I do use mono and braid for surface or just below surface baits because these lines float. I use florocarbon for the sinking swimbaits.

[Trav]

I have an old Shimano 4500 that I used for swimbaits back when I was doing alot of salt water fishing. Real nice equipment.

The tuna and amber jacks tore up the swimbaits. Not a huge fan of them in freshwater either. Never fished any Cali lakes though.

I still remember going through 100 to 150 dollars a day in swimbaits in them days. Salt water fish are pretty hard on them. Was lucky to catch 6 fish before they were trashed. Trust me, I bought the cheapest non brand ones I could get. Of course, Quality didnt really matter when they were schooling by the hundreds.

[Paola Cat]

I agree with CJ ..... Swimbaits seem to work better for me on warm water, aggressive FL strain bass. I've just slayed them in Mexico on swim baits. I'm talking the every cast kind of thing. Using baits up to 8". I've used them throughout the midwest on northern strain bass with limited success in the under 4" size. I've primarily fished the Storm, Berkely, and Optimum baits. I fish them on 7' MH rig and fish them primarily with braid. Sometimes I add in a FC leader. PC